Tag: Campari Group

Davide Campari-Milano N.V., trading as Gruppo Campari, is an Italian company in the branded beverage industry. It produces spirits, wines, and soft drinks. Brands include:
Grand Marnier, Frangelico, SKYY vodka, Bulldog London Dry Gin,
Wild Turkey bourbon, Glen Grant whisky, Forty Creek Canadian whisky

In early May, I had the pleasure of savouring the Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon. This experience left me craving more of this exceptional bourbon. Determined to restock my collection, I embarked on a spirited quest, only to be met with a challenge. The bourbon landscape in South Africa had dwindled over the past year, resulting in a somewhat limited selection.

Fortunately, my search yielded the Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey . I eagerly seized the opportunity to add it to my collection. Wild Turkey is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey crafted and bottled by the renowned Wild Turkey Distilling Co., nestled on Wild Turkey Hill near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

The origins of this distillery trace back to the Ripy brothers, who established the original distillery. Their bourbon found its way into the hands of various wholesalers who, in turn, bottled it under their own labels. One of these wholesalers were Austin Nichols.

Related Article: Pikesville Rye whiskey

According to a old tale, the “Wild Turkey” brand was born during a wild turkey hunting expedition in 1940, when an Austin Nichols executive named Thomas McCarthy sampled warehouse treasures with friends.

The whiskey was so beloved that they couldn’t resist asking for “that wild turkey bourbon.” In 1942, Austin Nichols officially began bottling Wild Turkey.

In 1949, the Ripys sold their distillery to Robert and Alvin Gould. A significant turning point occurred in 1971 when Austin Nichols purchased the distillery, then called Boulevard Distillery, from the Goulds and bestowed the name Wild Turkey Distillery upon it.

In 1980, Pernod Richard acquired the distillery and Wild Turkey brand. As time went on, Wild Turkey became part of the Campari Group.

Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 Whiskey Review

The “101” denotes its robust 101 proof, equivalent to 50.5% alcohol by volume. This bourbon is a blend comprising 6, 7, and 8 yo bourbons that emerge from the barrel at a potent 109 proof. Only a slight dilution is applied before bottling, preserving its bold character.

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 50.5%

COLOUR: Rich amber. It’s quite an oily bourbon.

NOSE: Rich and sweet, with layers of dark fruits. Hints of candied plums and ripe cherries, with maple syrup and caramel, form a delightful backdrop, offering a glimpse of the spiciness yet to unfold. Cinnamon whispers around, intermingling with the comforting embrace of vanilla. It’s an enticing beginning.

PALATE: The Wild Turkey 101 coats your palate with a chewy richness. Up to this point, John and I shared similar impressions. However, our tasting notes diverged from here. John perceived an outstanding balance of sweetness and spice, together with oak.

He described it as an intricate tapestry of spice layered over caramel toffee, with cherries adding depth. In contrast, I encountered a pepper spice bomb, overwhelming any lingering sweet notes. A touch of water does help, mellowing the pepper and taming some of the spice.

FINISH: John described the finish as a great body that builds to a smooth, spicy end. For me, it was a bold interplay of cinnamon and pepper vying for dominance.

RATING: VERY GOOD

Typically, our tasting notes and assessments align closely, but on this bourbon, our perspectives diverged significantly. John relished the Wild Turkey 101 bourbon whiskey, whereas I found it challenging to finish my glass. It’s a testament to the enigmatic nature of whiskey, capable of evoking diverse reactions.

This unpredictability is precisely what makes our whisky journey so thrilling; sometimes, we agree to disagree. This Kentucky bourbon secured an impressive 91 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. In our deliberations, we settled on a rating of “Very Good” for the Wild Turkey 101 bourbon whiskey.

It’s a bourbon that shines if you have an affinity for robust spices. While it may not be my preference, John managed to single-handedly make a dent in the bottle, attesting to its undeniable appeal for spicy, bold bourbon fans.

This is the perfect pairing with a blue cheese. The whiskey has enough bold spiciness to stand up to the pungent cheese.

Also Read: Jim Beam White Label Bourbon

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/04/2015

In Bourbon whiskey

The Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon whiskey is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey distilled and bottled in Kentucky. In 1869, the Ripy Brothers built a distillery in Tyrone, near Lawrenceburg.

After Prohibition, they merged with the current facility and resumed distilling. The Gould Brothers bought out the Ripys in 1952. Subsequently, Pernod Ricard bought the brand and the distillery in 1980.

The bourbon acquired its name in 1940 when a distillery executive called Thomas McCarthy grabbed a few sample bottles of 101-proof whiskey from the warehouse to take with him on a trip in South Carolina to hunt wild turkey.

The whiskey was such a hit with his friends; they repeatedly asked him to send them more of that “wild turkey bourbon.” The rest is history. The nickname became a famous brand, as Wild Turkey bourbon hit the shelves not long afterwards.

The Wild Turkey label carries a vividly printed, seemingly engraved illustration of its namesake. The Campari Group owns the Wild Turkey brand together with Glen Grant, Forty Creek Canadian whisky and Bisquit & Dubouché cognac.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a “barrel-proof bourbon” (54.1% ABV), meaning it has no added water to lower the proof or dilute the bourbon after it’s been distilled.

This Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon whiskey is a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6 year old, 8 year old, and 12 year old stocks.

Related Article: Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon Whiskey Review

COUNTRY: USA

ABV: 54.1%

COLOUR: Quite a dark colour, and the official description is dark caramel. The caramel theme pulls through in the rest of the bourbon as well.

NOSE: Lots of caramel notes mixed with sweet spice and woody oaks. The nose is rich and sweet and invites you to dive straight in. Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with vanilla and sweetness.

PALATE: Without water, this Wild Turkey is big and spicy. A bit of alcohol burn that softens and mellows after adding water. There is a distinctive sweetness to this bourbon that I have not tasted before. Notes of burnt caramel, oak, cinnamon and pepper.

Water transforms this bourbon into a smooth, creamy, big mouthful glass of yumminess. Getting the whisky to water ratio right made all the difference. We had a 1:1 ratio (1 tot Wild Turkey Rare Breed: 1 tot water).

FINISH: Builds for a long time and end in pepper, nutmeg, oak and caramel sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is a bold bourbon that satisfies. Delicious and creamy with a wonderful mouthfeel. We could not resist a second glass. This Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon whiskey is sure to become one of my favourite bourbons. I can’t wait to try more from this American distillery.

Also Read: Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon

Private Barrel Co. Glen Grant 17 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/12/2014

In Single Malt whisky

Checkers recently bottled a Glen Grant 17 year old whisky under their Private Barrel Co. label. Glen Grant is a Speyside Single Malt distillery located in the small town of Rothes – not far from the Glenrothes distillery.

John and James Grant, two former illegal distillers, founded Glen Grant in 1840. All the essential ingredients of malt whisky were close at hand; the sea and port of Garmouth, the River Spey and barley-growing plains all within easy reach for a new distillery.

By 1872, the founders of Glen Grant Distillery had died. Young James ‘The Major’ Grant, born in 1847, had always taken a keen interest in the distillery. After inheriting the business from his uncle John Grant, he proved himself a worthy successor.

According to accounts, James Grant was a legendary innovator and traveller. New ideas fascinated James Grant, and he wasn’t afraid to explore them. He was the first man in the Highlands to own a car. Glen Grant was the first distillery to have electric light.

He also introduced the tall, slender stills and purifiers, which created the fresh malty flavour. James Grant passed away in 1931. He was survived by his three daughters and a distillery that had become one of the most famous in the world.

Douglas MacKessack, his grandson, became his successor. In 2006, Campari acquired Glen Grant. The Glen Grant distillery is one of the top-selling malt whiskies in parts of the world.

Checkers launched their Private Barrel Co. Label of single malt whiskies in 2013. There are three other bottlings in the Checkers Private Barrel Co collection, including a Mortlach and a Glenburgie.

Only 464 bottles of the Glen Grant 17 year old whisky has been released. It is the most mature of the current Private Barrel Co. range, and I managed to get bottle number 170 of 464.

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Glen Grant 17 year old Whisky Review

The Glen Grant 17 year old single malt Scotch whisky is finished in a Sherry Cask (cask no. 97265).

REGION: Speyside

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: A copper tinted gold.

NOSE: When nosing, the sherry cask is immediately noticeable. The sherry comes through at once and is very pronounced. Then some fresh fruit emerges, especially when you add a bit of water. There are notes of greengage, mild spice and butterscotch. Not have a very complex nose.

PALATE: Fresh fruit and butterscotch. It is a very spicy whisky with lots of pepper, ginger and nutmeg. There is some sweetness of the sherry cask in the background, but the spice dominates the taste.

FINISH: This Glen Grant 17 year old finishes in spice and liquorice. The finish is rather short but nicely warming.

RATING: VERY GOOD

For a 17 year old whisky, this is not a very complex whisky. However, it is an easy-drinking dram. Surprisingly the sherry does not come through as much in the palate as it does in the nose.

An interesting bottle to have in my collection. I am looking forward to trying some of the other expressions in the Checkers Private Barrel Co collection. There are a few more to choose from. I have also tasted the Private Barrel Co. No.41 whisky and the Private Barrel Co No 68, both of which are amazing drams. Earlier this year, I tried this Glen Grant 17 yo with various cheeses to find a good whisky cheese pairing. The Glen Grant works very nicely with young, mild cheddar cheese.

The Private Barrel Co released a James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo Fino Cask as well as a Private Barrel Co No 108 Irish Whiskey during 2018, and you can read all about it.

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Meandering the world, one whisky at a time